Eye of the public | Seo Changbin

Chapter 15

"Can I sleep with you for tonight? I don't feel like being alone today."

"Of course, you can always comt to me."

With that Riley entered her sister's room who scooted over on her bed to make space for her younger twin.

The little family had arrived a few hours before after the get-together after the funeral. On one side was the mood obviously down and sad but everyone seemed to remember only their dad's best features so it was still a nice feeling after all.

"Have you called Changbin yet? Maybe he can cheer you up a bit." Millie suggested and put the blanket over her sister's smaller frame.

"No. I don't really know what to tell him. That although I am here for my father's funeral I haven't felt that reassured in a very long time? That I'm already dreading the day I have to fly back to Seoul? That I would rather stay here all together but don't want to break his heart?"

Millie was a little shocked about the latters outburst. Not because she didn't know about her inner feelings but because she just said them out loud for the first time.

"Oh Ry, I know it seems hard right now but you do need to tell him. What do you always say? A healthy relationship is based on communication. You don't need to do that over the phone right now but don't leave him hanging as soon as you get back. You can talk to me and we'll figure out what to do in the next weeks okay?"

A silent nod came as a response and Millie tightened her embrance.

"Sleep for now. We are all exhausted. Goodnight, my little Ry"

•

"You have no idea how much we are goining to miss you!" Emma exclaimed and pulled Riley into a tight hug.

Everyone had gathered in family McEvery's house to say goodbye to Riley. The latter had strongly insisted on going alone to the airport as she would only cry more if someone accompanied her.

The few weeks of her Stay back in London with her friends and family flew by and before anyone knew it the day of her departure arrived.

"You need to visit soon again!" Rebecca mumbled while trying to hold her tears. "Definitely but all of you are more than welcomed to visit me in Seoul anytime."

A round of nods went through the small crowd but it was clear that almost all of them were on the verge of tears.

"The taxi driver is here, you need to go now Ry" Harry said from his spot at the window. He had stayed in the background the whole time, leaving the girls some space to say goodbye. He knew that Riley still held some grudge against him, even if it had become smaller over the time.

But then the girl stood in front of him with her arms slightly raised in a way of showing that she wanted a hug. Harry gladly dove into the arms of someone who, despite the age difference, has always been a place of comfort for him.

"This time I won't let my visit wait for as long as this time" Riley reassured after she pulled away.

After she had hugged everyone once again, Riley turned her back towards the small group and entered the taxi. Especially Millie watched her go with a heavy heart, knowing to what decision her sister had come.

•

"I'm really sorry that I can't pick you up from the airport. But with the promotions our schedule is so packed and-"

"I understand, don't worry. I will simply call Sora. She already offered either way" Riley interrupted her boyfriend who sounded clearly stressed over the phone and Riley didn't want to add to that stress.

"I know but I haven't seen you for the past weeks and I missed you so I just wanted to see you as earlie as possible" Changbin sounded frustrated but Riley didn't know how she could help him.

"I'll try to make time soon and then I will take you out on a date. How does that sound?" Changbin asked trying to sound cheerful to not worry the girl. His mood and condition were still clearly given away.

"I'll have to take a look in my schedule too. I also missed a lot of work, I'm behind and need to catch up first" Changbin noticed the way she indirectly declined the date which she never did before, never minding how much she had to do. He simply hoped, even if it was selfish, that her actions were because of the loss of her father and not because she didn't need or loved Changbin anymore.

"Sora is on the other line, I'll hang up now. Bye Changbin, talk to you later"

Before Changbin could respond anything the call was ended and he was left staring confused at his phone. "Please talk to me princess. Tell me what's up" He mumbled before shutting his phone and catching up with the other members.

Back at the airport, a single tear rolled down Riley's cheek when she shut her phone. Sora wasn't calling her, they had already discussed the meeting point and time.

No, Riley was crying because she too had missed Changbin but she had only realised that on the plane earlier and right now all of those bad thoughts came flooding back in.

She walked towards the exit when she was stopped by someone grabbing her backpack.

Riley turned around abruptly, only to be face to face with an unfamiliar face of a girl.

"Can I help you?" She asked slightly irritated.

"Piss off!"

"Excuse me?" Now Riley started to get pissed off, just like the girl told her to.

"You heard me right. I said piss off! You only disturb everyone with your presence" The girl was backed up by two others who looked just as stuck up as the first one.

"I don't know what the hell you are talking about but I ask you to leave me alone now or I will call the security" Riley tried to remain calm but her fear of crowds and being cornered didn't help the situation at all.

"You will do shit. Now listen closely: Stop forcing Changbin into saying that he is in a relationship with you. Toxic fans like you are disgusting!"

Now Riley finally understood what this was about. But what was she supposed to do?

Whenever this happened before, always either Harry or Changbin were with her.

Riley was aware of her short temper so she wanted to simply walk away. The first girl didn't let her though, as she grabbed her arm, digging her nails into Riley's skin.

Riley yelped at the sudden pain and pushed the girl off of her.

In the next second she was holding her cheek where a sudden stinging pain appeared. She looked with disbelief at the girl who just slapped her and ran away with her luggage before she would loose her temper.

"Riley?" Sora asked confused when the latter ran past her with one hand pressed against the side of her face. Without thinking too much she hurried after her friend and cought up with her outside.

She placed a hand on the girl's shoulder but it was slapped away again.

"Can't you just leave me alo- Sora?" Crying, Riley broke down in her friends arms who had trouble processing what just happened.

"Before you ask, I don't want to talk about it. Just some crazy 'fans'" With that the topic was dismissed and didn't leave space open for Sora's questions about her bleeding arm and cheek.

-video attached-

>I just wanted to ask for an autograph and this is what I got. And I actually wanted to believe the rumors about her rudeness were false. But I was proven wrong myself. I honestly don't know what Changbin sees in a violent person like her but she is probably forcing him into this fake relationship. #stopherviolence #savechangbin

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~this is the second antagonist I need in my stories

~until next chapter
~~June